Signal-torch



(No Model.)

, J. HALL; SIGNAL TORCH.

No. 296.952. Patented Apr. 15, 1884.

Edy]. Fay? Inveng r Jbhn Hall N PETERS PMoI-ihogmphar. Wuhinlum, D, C:

JOHN HALL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SIGNAL-TORCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,952, dated April 15, 1884.

Application filed December 18, 1 8S3. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HALL, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Signal-Torches for Navigable-Vessels, 8m; and I do hereby declare the same to be described in the following specification and represented in the accompanying drawings, of Which-- Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a vertical and longitudinal section, of an apparatus or signal-torch of my invention, the nature of which is defined in the claims hereinafter presented.

It is customary at sea when a ship or vessel is being approached by another or a steamer at night to display a torch as a signal to the approaching vessel of the character and contiguity of that toward which it may be moving. In case of the weather being thick or foggy,

it frequently becomes very necessary for the lighting of the torch to be sudden or very speedily efiected. WVith my invention this can be done to excellent advantage.

In the drawings. A denotes a pot or can or vessel for holding essential oil of turpentine or other readily inflammable or suitable liquid. B is a cover adapted to encompass the upper part and close the mouth of such vessel. From this cover a tube, 0, extends down into the pot and opens through such cover. To a wire, a, projecting from the tube at its lower end, a torch or sponge, D, or other suitable liquidabsorbent matter is affixed.

E is a fire-arm, pistol, or revolver, whose barrel b is inserted downward and closely within the tubeG. If, now, we suppose the chambers of the rotary magazine of such fire-arm or revolver to be duly supplied with percussion cartridges or shells loaded with gunpowder, but without short .or ball in them, and the pot to be supplied with spirits of turpentine the sponge toward the person holding the pistol, it will be intercepted by the cover, which will thus serve as a shield to the hand grasping the stock of the pistol. On quickly returning the sponge and cover to the pot, the flame may be extinguished without setting fire to the liquid contents of the pot.

The pistol, while serving as a means of lighting the torch answers as a handle thereto. It need not be a revolver, as it may be a single or a double barreled fire-arm, provided the socket or tube 0 for its reception be properly made; but a revolver is preferable, as it may occasionally occur that a single discharge of it may not suffice to inflame the torch.

The report of the pistol at its discharge upon the torch will serve as an additional warning to the approaching vessel.

I claim 1. The combination of the pot or can and its cover with the torch and pistol or fire-arm adapted to such cover, so as to operate substantially and for the purpose as set forth.

2. The combination of the can or pot and its cover with the torch and the pistol-barrel socket or receiving-tube adapted to such cover,

essentially as represented.

JOHN HALL. \Vitnesses:

B. H. EDDY, E. B. PRATT. 

